Environmental DNA: Sensing the Diversity of Life and Assessing Ecosystem Health

What if you could detect species without observing them? What if nature sends out a reliable signal disclosing the presence of species that we can capture and interpret with great accuracy? How can we improve our efforts to monitor and conserve species habitats and ecosystems with such information in our hands? Our comprehensive course offers a unique opportunity to delve into the world of eDNA and its groundbreaking role in understanding and safeguarding our natural ecosystems. Guided by our team of ecologists in the field, you'll learn about hands-on skills in sampling techniques, laboratory methodologies, and data interpretation. You will investigate ecological questions hidden within rivers, oceans, forests, and soils as you learn about analysing DNA samples present in the environment. Through the eDNA analysis approach, you'll gain the power to identify elusive species without disturbing their habitats. Imagine being able to monitor the presence of endangered creatures, invasive species, and even those on the brink of discovery, all while contributing to critical conservation efforts. Follow our researchers as they take you along on their fieldwork in the tropical rainforests of Colombia, the coastal waters of Brittany, France and the forest reserves of Switzerland. Their research case studies will offer you the opportunity to dive into real-life environmental issues where scientific questions are intertwined with societal challenges. Through the different stages of their eDNA research, we can generate new insights about the diversity of species and the health of ecosystems for these cases. Whether you're a conservationist, ecologist, an environmental policy expert, citizen scientist, or simply a nature enthusiast, this course promises to ignite your curiosity and equip you with tools to address today's pressing ecological challenges.

• Theoretical and conceptual understanding of environmental DNA
• The role and potential of eDNA in biodiversity research
• Designing an eDNA sampling strategy
• How to perform eDNA sampling methods and procedures in the natural environment
• The scientific rationale and course of action taken in the lab environment, focusing predominantly on metabarcoding
• Considerations to maximise and effectively target DNA regions
• Matching samples and sequences to species databases
• Understanding insights about species and diversity characteristics in ecosystems
• Applying insights from each stage of the eDNA workflow to real-life research case studies
• Evaluating the interests and perspectives of different stakeholders in a socio-ecological problem
• Connecting eDNA-based biodiversity assessment to evidence-based environmental decision-making

• Basic knowledge of biological and ecological concepts